Fixing and/or assembling device

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a fixing and/or assembling device comprising two elements (A, B) having respectively teeth ( 2 ) and orifices ( 5 ) designed to receive the teeth when the two elements are assembled. The teeth ( 2 ) are made of elastically flexible material and are deformed in the orifices ( 5 ) when the two elements are assembled so as to ensure that the two elements (A, B) are maintained together, said teeth recovering their shape when the two elements (A, B) are separated.

[0001] The invention has as its object a fixing and/or assembling device consisting of two elements, one having teeth on the surface, and the other having holes intended for receiving these teeth when the two elements are assembled.

[0002] Fixing devices consisting of two elements intended for being assembled one with another are already known, in particular under patents FR 2090786 and WO 96/41551. Patent FR 2090786, describes a device consisting of two elements in the shape of plates, one of which contains on its surface fibers with hooks while the other contains fibers shaped like loops intended for catching onto the hooks of the first element. This device is well known under the name of “VELCRO.” In this French document, there is also an evaluation of devices previous to Apr. 29, 1970, which is the date of the registration for priority in Switzerland.

[0003] Document WO 96/41551 describes an attaching device for shoes intended to replace laces. This device includes a first part in the shape of a small tongue with holes on the surface and a second part shaped like a plate with ridges in the shape of hooks. The tongue is intended for coming across and attaching to the hooks. This device is very close to the one described in patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,659. In fact, in this US document, an attachment device is described, which consists of two elements, one of which has bumps shaped like mushrooms that are intended for fitting into circular holes set into the second element.

[0004] Although the devices described in the documents quoted above are relatively satisfactory, they have some defects. In particular, the first device described in document FR 2090786 has the defect of not being precise in its positioning. On the other hand, though the second device described in document WO 96/41551 has a precise positioning, it has the defect of wearing out relatively quickly, and therefore of not insuring a good hold.

[0005] The invention has as its goals the furnishing of a device that does not have the defects of the known devices, that is, one that allows a precise positioning and that does not wear out easily, thus insuring a good hold even after long usage.

[0006] These goals are reached with the device made according to the invention defined in claim 1.

[0007] In fact, one device made according to the invention contains elastic teeth that can be used a large number of times without being damaged. The assembly of the two elements also requires a certain force exerted by the user, thus insuring a good hold, since it will require approximately the same force to separate the two elements.

[0008] The invention will be better understood, and its characteristics and advantages will appear more clearly after a reading of the description of the development methods, given strictly as examples. These are shown on the drawings on which:

[0009]FIG. 1 represents schematically a first method of developing the device according to the invention.

[0010]FIG. 2 represents schematically a second method of developing the device according to the invention.

[0011]FIG. 3 represent a first use of the device represented in FIG. 1.

[0012]FIG. 4 represents schematically a variant of one element of the device developed according to the invention.

[0013]FIGS. 5 and 6 represent schematically two uses of a device developed according to the invention.

[0014]FIG. 1 represents very schematically a first method of developing the fixing and/or assembling device according to the invention. On FIG. 1a, we see a first element A containing a part 1, which can be a plate or a strip or a polyhedron, but which is a plate in this representation shown in cross section or as seen from the outside. On part 1 are attached some teeth 2, which come from the mold in the shape shown. These teeth 2 have a point 3, and their cross section can be either circular or polygonal. In this method of development, the teeth are straight.

[0015] On FIG. 1b, we see the second element B intended to be assembled with the first element A of FIG. 1a. This element B is represented as seen from the outside. It has an elongated parallelepiped shape 4 and contains at least one row of holes 5 represented by dotted lines. The cross sections of the holes (not shown) are identical to the cross sections of the teeth 2 of element A in FIG. 1a. However, these holes are curved longitudinally. Thus, when element A is set against element B and the two elements are pressed together, the teeth of element A penetrate into the holes of element B, as seen in FIG. 1c. This operation requires a certain force, so that the teeth 2 curve, and an approximately identical force will be required to disassemble or separate the two elements A and B. Thus, an assembly is obtained that is precise and relatively solid.

[0016] As can be seen on FIG. 1c, the two elements A and B are assembled with a space h between plate 1 of element A and the main body 4 of element B. This space can be used to grip material or hair, for example, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0017] The length of the teeth 2, in the method of development represented, is greater than the depth of the holes 5 of element B, but this length could be exactly the same or shorter than depth 5. This difference could result in a pleasing look for certain uses, for example, when the invention device is used as a system for closing a belt or a shoe.

[0018] On FIG. 2, we see schematically a second method of developing this device according to the invention. In order to facilitate comprehension, we have kept the same references as in FIG. 1, to which we have added a prime (′).

[0019] On FIG. 2a, we see a first element A′ containing one part 1′, which can be a plate or a strip, but which is shown in this diagram in cross section or as seen from the outside. Teeth 2′ are attached to part 1′, the teeth having been molded in the development method as shown. These teeth 2′ contain a point 3′, and have either a circular or polygonal cross section. In this development method, the teeth are curved.

[0020] On FIG. 2b, we see a second element B′ intended for being assembled with the first element A′ of FIG. 2a. This element B′ is, as in the development method in FIG. 1, represented as seen from the outside. It has the shape of an elongated parallelepiped 4′, and contains at least one row of holes 5′ represented as dotted lines. The cross sections of the holes (not shown) are identical to the cross section of the teeth 2′ of element A′ in FIG. 2a. On the other hand, these holes are straight in the longitudinal direction, that is, in the direction of the depth. Thus, when we set element A′ against element B′ and press the elements together, the teeth of element A′ penetrate into the holes of element B′, as is shown in the diagram in FIG. 2c. This operation requires a certain force, so that the teeth 2′ straighten out, and an approximately equal force will be required to disassemble or separate the two elements A′ and B′. In this way, we also obtain a precise and relatively solid assembly.

[0021] On FIG. 4, we can see a third development method that is noticeably different from the first two development methods described above, but is based on the same principle as the one defined in claim 1. In order to facilitate comprehension, we have kept the same references for the same characteristics as in FIG. 1, to which we have added two prime (″). We have only shown element A, since element B″ is identical to element B′ of the method described in FIG. 2, that is to say that the holes are straight in the direction of the depth.

[0022] On FIG. 4, we see that element A″ consists of a first part 1″, which can be a strip or a plate just as it was in the preceding development methods. To part 1″ are attached teeth 2″, which also, as an example, come from the mold in the development method shown here. These teeth 2″ have a cross section that is either circular or polygonal. In this development method, teeth 2″ have a longitudinal slit 7 creating two parts 8 and 9, which are elastic enough to move together when teeth 2″ are pushed into the holes in part B″. This operation requires a certain force so that the parts of teeth 2″ move together, and an approximately equal force will be required to disassemble the two elements A″ and B″. In this way, we also obtain a precise and relatively solid assembly.

[0023] In addition, with this development method, teeth 2″ have a point 10 containing a slight overlap that forms a hook. This hook will make it possible to create an assembly that cannot be taken apart. For example, this assembly could be used to assemble the elements of a machine.

[0024]FIG. 5 shows one use of a device made according to the invention, specifically as a hair barrette. As can be seen from FIGS. 5a and 5 b, the barrette has two parts A and B. Part A (FIG. 5a) consists of one part in the shape of an elongated parallelepiped 51 with straight teeth 52 having points 53 on one of its sides. In addition, at one of the ends of part A there is a mushroom shaped stem 54. Part B (FIG. 5b) consists of a main body 55 with holes 56 having a lengthwise curve for receiving the teeth 52 of part A. On one end of part B, there is a system 57 for receiving and holding the mushroom shaped stem 54 of part A. On FIG. 5c, the two parts A and B are shown assembled.

[0025]FIG. 6 shows another use of a device made according to the invention, in particular for a clip or clamp for clothing. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the clip consists of two parts A and B connected to each other by a string or cord 68. Part A (FIG. 6) includes one part in the shape of an elongated parallelepiped 61 containing straight teeth 62 with points 63 on one of its sides. Part B (FIG. 6) consists of a body 65 containing holes 66 with a curve in the longitudinal direction that are intended for receiving the teeth 62 of part A. This clip is used in the following manner: place element B on one side of the material to be clamped and push part A into part B, being certain to pierce through the material with the teeth 62, then press the two parts A and B together, thus clamping the material in place.

[0026] It is obvious that the two uses described above as examples, could be created with teeth 52 and 62 curved and holes 56 and 66 straight in the direction of their depth. Teeth 52 and 62 could also be created as shown in FIG. 4.

[0027] The third use, not shown here, could consist of elements A with teeth on at least two opposite sides so that two elements B could be assembled to it simultaneously. The element could also be made in the shape of a polyhedron having several sides with surfaces containing teeth. The assembly could be made so that either element A or element B was the unassembled part, that is, the part available to receive another element. In this way, constructions could be created, in other words, the device developed according to the invention could be used as a game.

[0028] Finally, the two elements A and B of a device developed according to the invention could be created from any material with adequate elastic flexibility, that is, any material that can be deformed (folded), and that returns to its original shape once the pressure is released. It could be made, for example, of synthetic materials or of metals such as steel or aluminum.

[0029] It is obvious that this invention and the few uses for it described here are only given as examples, and that the uses are not limited to those described. Thus, the invention can undergo all sorts of variations, especially as concerns the materials used to create it, the size of the various elements such as the length of the teeth and the depth of the holes, and the uses to which it is put. 

1. Fixing and/or assembling device consisting of two elements (A, B) one with elongated teeth or stems (2, 2′, 52, 62) and the other with holes (5, 5′, 56, 66) that are intended for receiving these teeth when the two elements are assembled, the two elements being separable once they have been assembled, characterized by the fact that the teeth (2) are straight in the direction of their length and the holes (5) have a cross section that is identical to that of the teeth and are curved in the direction of their depth, or that the teeth (2′) are curved in the direction of their length and the holes (5′) have a cross section identical to that of the teeth and are straight in the direction of their depth, such that when the two elements are assembled, the teeth undergo an elastic bending deformation that allows them to be held fast by their forced assembly into the holes.
 2. Fixing and/or assembling device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the teeth have a circular cross section.
 3. Fixing and/or assembling device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the teeth have a polygonal cross section.
 4. Fixing and/or assembling device according to one of the claims 1 through 3, characterized by the fact that one of said elements contain several rows of teeth set on an elongated plate or a strip, and the other said element contains several rows of holes set into a plate.
 5. Fixing and/or assembling device according to one of the above claims, characterized by the fact that the teeth are longer than the depth of the holes.
 6. A fixing and/or assembling device according to one of the claims stated above, characterized by the fact that the teeth are shorter than the depth of the holes.
 7. A fixing and/or assembling device according to one of the claims stated above, characterized by the fact that the element containing the teeth has at least two surfaces with teeth, so that it can be assembled with at least two elements containing holes.
 8. A bracelet containing a device according to one of the claims stated above, characterized by the fact that the bracelet is of an open type, and that it has an element with teeth at one of its ends and an element with holes at the other end.
 9. A shoe containing a device according to one of the claims stated in number 1 above, characterized by the fact that it has an opening on the upper part of the top of the shoe with elements on one of its edges in the shape of a narrow tongue containing teeth, whereas the other side of the opening has an element in the shape of a plate containing holes intended for receiving these teeth. 